It's official. Livewire goes solo."INTRODUCING LIVEWIRE ELECTRONICS
Livewire Electronics announced today that it has set out on its own and is no longer associated with The EAR Group.
"Demand for Livewire products has grown dramatically over the past six months and I feel we have outgrown the benefit of being part of a collective.", says Livewire owner and EAR Group co-founder, Mike Brown.
'I'm sure that the other companies still associated with EAR will continue to put out excellent products.'
More information about Livewire Electronics and their products can be found on their new website at: http://www.livewire-synthesizers.com.
Inquiries can be sent to:
info[]livewire-synthesizers.com."
EAR today gone tomorrow
ReplyDeleteSorry it had to be done!
quote: "'I'm sure that the other companies still associated with EAR will continue to put out excellent products"
ReplyDeletewhat companies?
wasn't Livewire the only EAR company actually delivering anything?
bitchy
ReplyDeletePlan B were relesing things too, they just sent stuff 45 modules to AH
reading about their collective politics makes me feel all icky. They're all smarmy to me.
ReplyDeleteSmarmy: Inflected forms: smarm·i·er, smarm·i·est
1. Hypocritically, complacently, or effusively earnest; unctuous. See synonyms at unctuous.
Unctuous: Inflected forms: smarm·i·er, smarm·i·est
1. Hypocritically, complacently, or effusively earnest; unctuous. See synonyms at unctuous.
(Let's just see them sell something to me now)
"Anonymous said...
ReplyDeletebitchy
Plan B were relesing things too, they just sent stuff 45 modules to AH"
I think you just made their point...
Their are no other EAR companies left except for Plan B.
a more accurate jab would've been:
"Livewire was the only EAR company actually producing the modules it announced to the public"
Even though the Chaos computer isn't for sale yet (dammit!) - I know it exists - I saw it in Frankfurt.
The EAR/Oakley line was never released.
(and Tony Allgood recently made it public that he was done with EAR too)
Plan B practically announces something new every other week and we've yet to "see" any of it working.
ummmm, there are 5 PlanB products currently in production and in stock @ Analogue Haven as of this writing.
ReplyDeletedon't bring a guy down just because he lets customers know ahead of time what products are on the horizon, however far off that is.
wag of the finger to you sir.
"don't bring a guy down just because he lets customers know ahead of time what products are on the horizon, however far off that is."
ReplyDeleteokay...
does that make it acceptable for collecting payments in advance and never delivering what's been paid for?
until last April I always thought that the whole EAR thing was just another bullshit smokescreen to give Plan B another excuse not to deliver on promises and avoid having to communicate with customers by hiding behind fictional employees...
since Plan B is the only EAR company remaining - it appears the "other designers" came to the same conclusion.
the preceding is just my opinion...
...you can shove your wagging finger up your ass
you clearly had a different experience that put you off of plan B, but mine has been fine. i have four of his modules (two oscillators, the model 12 filter, the dual timbral gate) and they're all fantastic. they were in stock at analogue haven, i bought them, and they were shipped to me on time.
ReplyDeletemaybe plan B had early problems that have been ironed out. yeah, i wish everything he announced was available, but what can you do.
for what it's worth it seems like half the stuff on livewire's site isn't available yet either. i want me a vulcan modulator.
"for what it's worth it seems like half the stuff on livewire's site isn't available yet either. i want me a vulcan modulator."
ReplyDeletedidn't say "available"
spefically said "actually produced"
if you go to the EAR site you can see working version of ALL Livewire products.
the Vulcan Modulator is in that NIN system (unless this was another EAR ruse and NIN played along)
compare that to the 15 Plan B pieces
and half of them are nothing more than conceptual drawings
you're right - my Plan B experience was different from those of you smart enough to wait and buy it from a retailer rather than directly from Plan B....
...I should probably be more angry at myself (caveat emptor).
I have been working on modules too:
ReplyDeletepaulsop.googlepages.com
All exist as one-off's, and I'm looking for a partner to increase production.
Perhaps the Ear group is for me?
:)
Nice one Doktor. Here's a love gun moduleblaster for you. Yes, it's safe...
ReplyDeletewow matrix...
ReplyDeleteyou gotta tough bunch over here: )
first I get dogged on my knobs and then this...
the real story here is:
"the future"
it's even better news that the market for analog and modular is deep enough that a guy can leave his dayjob and spend some time "being the man" instead of having to "work for the man"
good for Mike Brown!
I feel like a proud pappa. : )
ReplyDeleteThis is Peter Grenader. I am from EAR and Plan B.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see I still have fans out there.
Let me clear some things up here:
1) the break of Livewiire from EAR was an amicable decision by both Mike and I. A matter of fact, I brought it up initially. No rumors need be started over this. The reason we did has to do with growth, and the specific reasons need not be discussed. It's not really interesting. nor is it nessesary for public connsumption. Plan B and Livewire are still around, still shipping, still healthy.
There will be other things happening at EAR over the next few months. Other products not directly associated with Plan B.
2) Regarding Plan B not shippiing anything, being vaporware, etc. Not sure where you get your information, or what cave you live in. Plan B has shipped over 275 units since August of last year. About 150 of those have been sent to Analogue Haven in the last five months, over 45 of those to AH in the last three weeks.
About 30 Plan B modules have been sent to our European dealers in that time frame.
There are currently over 100 units still to be shipped against open purchase orders from our three dealers and this does not include the new Model 24 heisenberg Generator. This 100 will all be delivered in the next month.
There is also a shipment leaving for Europe next week which consists of all of our modules, including the Model 14 and 10. This is the forth shipment sent to tour European dealers.
3) Regarding Livewire being the only people in the EAR Group who were producing anything:
Actually, there's been more Plan B goods produced and sold than Livewire over the last year.
4) Regarding Plan B items on the site never coming to market. This is EXACTLY what Deiter and Livewire does. We put new items up for review on the sites before they are released. It's called pre-marketing.
In any event, the new Model 14's are at Analogue Haven. Five were delivered Tuesday. Another 5 are being delivered next week. There's also a quantity going to Europe next week.
To date, Plan B is the only company currently or once associated with Electro-Acoustic Research who has shipped new products above the initial offering. The new Livewiire products have not been shipped yet.
5) If you saw the Livewire Chaos Computer at Musikmesse, then you also saw the Plan B goods there as well (hint: they were in the same rack)
The new Model 10s will be coming soon to both our US and Euro dealers - Weve been spending time flushing out the custom order backlog over the last week, I haven't had time to work on the new M10s because of that.
Lastly, I'm really getting tired of this. If any of you really do not believe Plan B exists, then feel free to purchase other company's products. There are a host of excellent manufacturers making goods to support the Eurorack standard.
However, if some of you are now worried that we've never shipped anything due to anonymous's sage disinformation posted here, Do;t take my word for it, ...just call Analogue Haven - they have stock. Or call Mesi or Schneider's Beuro, they too have stock.
Respectfully Submitted,
- Peter Grenader
Please find photo links of Analogue Haven's Plan B inventory as of August 15, 2006:
ReplyDelete1) Model 12's, 15's, 17's:
http://www.ear-group.net/pbinventory1_ah.jpg
2) Fourteen Model 12's delivered that day. Note single Model 10 (at the end):
http://www.ear-group.net/pbm13_ah.jpg
3) Model 14's at AH (pardon blurred photo):
http://www.ear-group.net/m14_ah.jpg
4) Plan B display rack at Analgue Haven, 8/15/06:
http://www.ear-group.net/closeuppb_ah.jpg
respectfully submitted,
- Peter Grenader
One last thing. Didn't want to think I intentionally ingored this dig:
ReplyDeleteanonymous said:
"does that make it acceptable for collecting payments in advance and never delivering what's been paid for?"
Don't wish to take this out of context. 'Anonymous' was making a comment here that I do not deliver custom products. I think it would be fair to assume that he's calling me a thief of sorts.
Firstly, I have not accepted a deposit from an individual on anything since the formation of the EAR Group. That was over a year ago and there's been over 345 units shipped then.
Secondly, we are currently working on, have always been working on, a rather large backlog inventory of custom jobs in the shop. These I did take DOWN PAYMENTS for. This week alone, we completed Dan Levey's TB303 midi board installation (he's a blogger here, please feel free to ask him). Last week it was four modules to Jesus Diaz. Right now I've got my staff finishing up Dennis Vershoor's custom Serge panels. This is a huge project.
Other recent backlog shipments went to Gino Robaiir, David Kronamyer and Timothy Lewis in Whales. We're are shipping two custom jobs a week. This is all I can do and still keep the other parts of this company alive. There aren't many left and I wm o longer accepting this type of work.
There was a time when my backlog was horrible. I admit it. But I've hired a staff, we are keeping abut water, we are delivering on time and we are blowing out the backlog. In short, we are delivering everything and I we are continuing to do so. I understand that i earned some of the bad rap I received. it was never intentional, it was due to a massive backlog received for services. But for heaven's sake, any errors made in that regard were long ago and we ARE doing what is required.
I'm not asking anyone to cut me slack - I want the comments I deserve. But along those lines, this includes the recognition we deserve for breaking our collective asses to complete the work and doing what needs to be done. A few months ago i took out a rather large personal loan and with it I've hired a staff an purchased inventory and equipment in which to complete and maintain our workload... I think this is an indication of my intentions. Honestly, this, aside from delivering - which we are doing - is about all we can do.
- Peter Grenader
Anonymous needs a hug, badly...
ReplyDeleteregarding:
"until last April I always thought that the whole EAR thing was just another bullshit smokescreen to give Plan B another excuse not to deliver on promises and avoid having to communicate with customers by hiding behind fictional employees..."
Here are our fictional employees at work. PLEASE feel free to call the toll free number, you can talk to them. Matter of fact, I'll pick up the other line just to be sure so you don't think it's just me pulling a ventriloquist trick.
866 755 4468
here we are:
http://www.ear-group.net/c388.jpg
Please, call us.
- P
Hey, this is Dan who's 303 was Midi'd by Peter. Time for me to chime in on this.
ReplyDeleteI've known Peter for almost a year now and being neighbors, have had an advantange in custom work and favors. All the while, I've seen him put in endless hours, not eat or sleep, just make his modules, which is his main passion in life.
I've been reading for the whole time posts on AH, VSE, YahooGroups, etc. the same claim of a few pissed off people who waited forever for their stuff. I think it's turned into an urban myth at this point. Not that it didn't happen, but it's become Peter's lore and it gets passed along to those who weren't even involved.
What matters is now! His stuff and Cwejman's are the coolest stuff ever to go into a modular. Screw everything else! You want another Moog clone, buy someone else's shit.
I had Peter do some work on my Korg a few months ago. He fixed it
ReplyDeleteimmediately and saved me for a gig when no other tech could or would repair it and a few had tryed. I picked my MS20 up from him late on a Sunday evening. He was working on a Livewire filter repair for them and his house was covered with Plan B modules and packing materials. Looked like he had
been awake for days. He's always working. The guy is driven hard and he was fair with me, only charged me $40 for same day repair that literally saved my ass. It's a cheap shot all you spammers. You guys should give half the time to what you do and then I'd like to see how you take to your own bullshit comments. If he hasn't got to your thing yet he
will and the reason it takes long sometimes is just like all the other guys who are in demand. He's also humble. Livewire's announcement is like a sales pitch, how busy they are. Peter's comment on the EAR site about it is typical of him. Professional and gracious. I also noticed on the Livewire site it mentions how they worked closely with Nyle Steiner on the released modules.
That was Peter. He worked with Nyle, it was Plan B's connection It wasn't Livewire. And they are taking the credit and all Peter does is accept blame for being late because he's helping others take the credit and goes back to
work to make it go away. Give the man some credit. It may take some time, but it's worth it.